Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) World Languages

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages offers the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in World Languages. The MAT in World Languages is a 36 semester hour, fifth-year program beyond the bachelor’s degree in which candidates may earn a master’s degree (MAT) The MAT in World Languages has three concentrations: English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), French, or Spanish.   

Successful candidates may earn a graduate degree, and become eligible for teaching certification at the T-5 level in ESOL, French, of Spanish in the state of Georgia. 

Successful candidates of all concentrations may also receive the English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsement for certified teachers.

This program can be completed on a full-time or part time basis.

NOTE: The MAT in World Languages program is for candidates seeking initial certification only! Teachers with current certification in any subject matter are not suitable for this program, but provisionally certified teachers teaching in a classroom are welcome and encouraged to apply.  For questions on applicability, please contact the program advisor Mrs. Renee Whitmer, Email: brwhitmer@valdosta.edu.

The MAT in World Languages can be completed on a fully online basis; however, there are three courses that require face-to-face experience within an approved school setting.  The final, third course, requires full-time semester-long experience within the certification field in an approved school setting.

Program Coordinators: ESOL: Dr. Ransom Gladwin, email: rgladwin@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-5109

                    Spanish & French: Dr. Kelly Davidson, email: kfdavidson@valdosta.edu, phone: 229-333-7415

Department of Modern and Classical Languages Website

ADMISSION DEADLINES

• Fall Semester: July 15
• Spring Semester: November 15
• Summer Semester: March 15

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Online Graduate Application

• Application Fee (credit or debit card and e-checks accepted)
• Apply Online

Official transcript from your bachelor's degree-granting school and from any graduate coursework.

ESOL Concentration

• Transcripts of course work completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants not meeting the required GPA requirement (Pathway #1) may be eligible for admission by an alternative pathway  (see below).
• Pass the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (Test 360) (To register: https://gace.ets.org/ethics/register/

Spanish & French Concentrations

• Transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at VSU will be obtained by the Graduate School
• Must hold a bachelor’s degree in French or Spanish from a regionally or nationally accredited institution.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited program that is not in French or Spanish as well as all students regardless of their major with a GPA under 2.5 (see Alternative Pathways 2 and 3 under Important Programs Information below) must take the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview and the Writing Proficiency Test (www.actfl.org) and score in the Advanced range. 
• Applicants with heritage language knowledge may be eligible for a testing waiver.  Contact the program coordinator for more information.
• Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 Scale.  Applicants not meeting the required GPA requirement (Pathway #1) may be eligible for admissioin by an alternative pathway (see below).

• PASS THE GEORGIA EDUCATORS ETHICS ASSESSMENT (Test 360) (To register: https://gace.ets.org/ethics/register/ )

VSU Medical Form (All concentrations):

• The form must be completed and signed by the student/applicant.
• This form must be received prior to enrollment, NOT prior to admission.
• Applicants who are currently enrolled, and those who attended VSU in the past, are not required to resubmit the Medical Form

Verification of Lawful Presence (All concentrations):

• This is not required for individuals who do not qualify for in-state tuition or a residency waiver.
• This must be received prior to enrollment (if applicable), NOT prior to admission.
• Citizenship documentation is needed for any applicant who wishes to be considered for in-state tuition.
• Complete list of accepted documents and information on residency. 

Unless otherwise indicated above, all required documents must be received on or before the admission deadline for your file to be reviewed. It is the applicant's responsibility to allow adequate time for document delivery and to en-sure receipt of documents. Please allow at least 7-10 days for delivery by mail.

IMPORTANT PROGRAM INFORMATION

ESOL Concentration

• Applicants must meet at least one of following three GPA pathways for program admission:
• Pathway #1 (traditional): Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
• Pathway #2 Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergrauate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale AND must be employed full-time at a Georgia public school and hold a Georgia provisional certificate in English to Speakers of Other Languages. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale will be admitted as a probationary student and must earn a 3.0 GPA in his/her first semester in the program.
• Pathway #3 Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 AND meet requirements for one of the following sub-pathways:
  • Alternative Pathway 3a: Have a mininum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or
  • Alternative Pathway 3b: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework (must have  completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or
  • Alternative Pathway 3c: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission.
• This 36-credit-hour master's degree program requires extensive field experiences and college course work.
• Although this program is online, face-to-face field experiences in diverse settings are required for successful progression in the program.
• The final semester of the program required full-time experiences in a classroom aligned to the candidates' selected area of certification.
• Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to confirm that this program complies with the requirements of their respective state educator licensing agency prior to applying.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to determine if there are additional requirements for educator  certification by the respective agency. (Georgia House Bill 671 (met by earning a B or better in SPEC 7000) is a prerequisite for the program.  This is a GAPSC requirement for certification.

Spanish & French Concentration

• Applicants must meet at least one of following three GPA
  pathways for program admission:
• Pathway #1 (traditional): Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
• Pathway #2: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale AND must be employed full-time at a Georgia public school and hold a Georgia provisional certificate in the field of certification sought. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale will be admitted as a probationary student with the following conditions:

• Pathway #3: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA or combined undergraduate and graduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale AND meet requirements for one of the following sub-pathways:
• Alternative Pathway 3a: Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree (i.e. 3000 and 4000 level coursework); or
• Alternative Pathway 3b: Have a minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework (must have completed at least 6 credit hours of graduate work in which a letter grade was awarded); or
• Alternative Pathway 3c: Have an undergraduate GPA earned ten or more years prior to admission.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

The M.A.T. in World Languages is a fully online program. Federal homeland security guidelines state that student visas cannot be issued for online programs.

Prospective students whose first language is not English and those who completed coursework or degrees outside the U.S., please review the information below for specific information and guidelines.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or completion of Level 6 at VSU’s English Language Institute with a B average or better– Applicants whose first language is not English (based on country of citizenship) must submit official scores on the TOEFL exam, IELTS exam, or complete Level 6 of VSU’s English Language Institute with a B or better. International applicants whose first language is not English but who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution may be exempt from the language proficiency requirement.
• Evaluation of International Transcripts - Applicants who have completed coursework at an institution outside of the United States must submit a course-by-course evaluation of the coursework.  This transcript evaluation must be completed by an international education credentials evaluation service such as Josef Silny, ECE, etc.  The transcript evaluation does not replace the transcript requirement. Official transcripts are still required.

ADMISSION CLASSIFICATIONS

• Regular Status
• Probationary Status

HAVE QUESTIONS?

• Call Us: 229-333-5694 
• Email Us: gradschool@valdosta.edu or rlwaters@valdosta.edu
• Visit Us: Converse Hall (Main Campus), Third Floor, Suite 3100

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Candidates must complete an application for graduation one semester prior to their anticipated graduation date.
2. A 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. No grade below a “C” will be credited toward the degree.

Graduation Requirements Page

RETENTION, DISMISSAL, & READMISSION POLICIES

1. After admission, courses taken more than seven years prior to the semester of degree completion cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements or admission to doctoral candidacy requirements unless otherwise indicated by individual program requirements. 
2. No more than 6 semester hours of academic work may be transferred from another institution into a master’s-level graduate program. This credit must be documented in the form of an official transcript at the time of admission. Transfer credit will be evaluated after admission, by the academic department. To be eligible, credit must be no more than seven years old at the time of admission unless otherwise approved by the program.
3. Earning grades below “B” in graduate courses will result in the following consequences: Students admitted Fall 2011 and thereafter will be dismissed from the Graduate School if they accumulate three or more academic deficiency points unless otherwise indicated by individual program policy. A grade of “C” (although it may be credited toward a degree) equals one deficiency point. A grade of “D,” “WF” or “F,” or “U” (none of which will be credited toward a degree) equals two deficiency points. Candidates admitted BEFORE Fall 2011 and receiving two grades below “C” (“D”, “F”, “WF”,“U”) will be dismissed from the program. One grade below a "C" results in a warning. 
4. If dismissed from the program a student must not be enrolled for two semesters. Application for readmission may be initiated during the second semester. Readmission is not guaranteed, and prior academic performance and student conduct/disposition in the program will be considered. The academic program reserves the right to place specific conditions and contingencies on any offer of readmission.

Retention, Dismissal, & Readmission Policies Page